Day of the Dead

Today is the day everyone goes to the cemetery and remembers those who've died. M helped clear the waist-high weeds that covered the place, and generally clear up, on Saturday. Today, we went down early and paid our respects to all those who've been buried here since we left. Contrary to what you might think, the general atmosphere is more party than mourning (as you can see in the extra, M and Edilson with his granddad, Ramo, 87 yrs old and as healthy and hard-working, and cheerful as he ever was). Of course there are tears, but people enjoy seeing family and neighbours who come from all around to pay their respects.

This lad is lighting candles for his brother, Ivan, who died last year, aged 33yrs, haven't quite worked out what from. He was a lovely, gentle man.